The USA has begun the process to bring closer together the key agencies that regulate offshore oil and gas decommissioning activities in the country.
The Department of the Interior announced on 3rd April the start of a phased plan to establish the Marine Minerals Administration, bringing together the functions of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE).
“This action is intended to improve coordination and increase efficiencies across offshore leasing, permitting, inspections and environmental oversight, while maintaining all existing regulatory protections and rigorous safety standards,” a Department of the Interior statement announced.
It added that the streamlined approach reflected the evolution of offshore energy development and the need for a more integrated approach to managing conventional and emerging resources, such as critical minerals.BOEM and BSEE are the primary offshore federal regulators for the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).
Other federal regulators include Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the US Coast Guard (USCG), which is involved in issues related to navigation safety and pollution control during removal operations.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said the establishment of the new Marine Minerals Administration marks a strategic step toward a more modern, coordinated approach to offshore resource management.
He said the agency will align resource planning, leasing decisions and operational oversight under a unified structure, reducing duplication and improving decision-making across the full lifecycle of offshore development.
“President Trump has been laser focused on making the government work efficiently and effectively for the American people. This is about building an agency that reflects where we are today and where we need to go,” said Burgum.
“The Department is applying what we’ve learned over the past decade to deliver clearer coordination, better service to the public and stronger, more integrated oversight of offshore energy development.”
